Baha Mar’s revenue is not likely to reach pre-pandemic levels for another year, Baha Mar President Graeme Davis said recently, adding that the mega resort will reach 50 percent occupancy by the third quarter of 2021.
Davis told travel industry website Travel Weekly that Baha Mar is likely to begin 2021 with occupancy numbers in the teens, before building up to higher occupancies later in the first three months and then even more into the end of the first half of the year.
He added that queries about group bookings are beginning to come in for 2022.
According to Davis, visitor
numbers could begin to look better if the global vaccination program ramps up and everyone does their part to stem the spread of the virus.
“There is certainly COVID fatigue and tremendous pent-up demand for travel,” said Davis.
“Those with the financial stability to weather the next two to three quarters will find there will be a very quick and strong recovery. Once vaccines are well-distributed, if everyone does their part to control the pandemic, it’s quite possible that the recovery could come in the third quarter or into the fourth quarter of 2021.
“We’re probably going to start off 2021 with occupancy in the teens and then build up momentum as we get later into the first and second quarters. But we’re not going see revenue per available room back to 2019 levels until the end of 2022. Full recovery is probably in 2023.”
Davis said, though, that the reduced numbers will allow for social distancing within the resort, which is operating in a so-called “bubble” while allowing non-registered guests on the property to visit restaurants.
He said in the article that summer will likely be the jump-off point for tourism in the Caribbean and in The Bahamas.
And while leisure travelers are expected back, hotels like Baha Mar are focused on ensuring that high-value groups consider traveling again soon.
“The leisure segment’s going to come back first, no question,” Davis said.
“The challenges are going to be on the business and corporate side. We can create a safe experience for groups, we have enough space in our conference center, we have enough outdoor space and enough space for indoor dining with physical distancing available for groups.
“We can have daily testing for attendees. But we don’t see group business really picking up until the fourth quarter, or even into 2022. There are discussions about 2022 availability, people are already looking at holding space for large groups.”
Baha Mar reopened the Grand Hyatt only days before Christmas. Davis told Travel Weekly that reopening Rosewood, SLS and Melia Nassau Beach will depend on demand into January.
“It’s not something that you can flick a switch and turn on in two weeks, but within 30 to 45 days, we can make a decision and be ready to open,” he said.
“We’re accepting reservations for February for both SLS and Rosewood, with the hope that we won’t have to postpone into later Q1 or Q2.”
The post Davis: Another year before Baha Mar’s revenue hits pre-COVID levels appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/davis-another-year-before-baha-mars-revenue-hits-pre-covid-levels/
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